British Shorthair Cats

Many people are not aware that British Shorthairs are descended from farm cats and have excellent skills in hunting small rodents and pests. This is due in part to the size and indolent features of the breed. It appears lazy and this is in contrast with its natural abilities in hunting.

History - Created in the nineteenth century, the British Shorthair became a very popular cat to own, that is until the mid twentieth century, when other unique breeds began to emerge. Not wanting this beautiful, historical cat to become extinct, a couple of dedicated cat lover's worked perilously to ensure its survival. It wasn't until the late twentieth century, that these wonderful cats were introduced in the United States, where cat fanciers became enthralled with their unusual personality and size.

Appearance - Offering many different selections of color, one color in particular was so in demand; it was the only shade and color credited by cat associations for years to come. British Blue was the name of the color of choice, but after World War II, this distinct color of British Shorthairs almost became nonexistent.

In order to preserve this gorgeous shade of blue, dedicated cat lover's bred the remaining blue shorthairs with Blue Persians. This created an increase in the gene pool and literally saved the specific shade from utter elimination. There are different colors to choose from which consist of white, bi-colors, smoke, totoiseshell, point colors with orange or blue eyes.

The British Shorthair has a roundish head and wide cheeks as well as a thick and relatively short tail. The British Shorthair, also known for its stockiness, is a large specimen of cat weighing in at a substantial nine to eighteen pounds.

British Shorthair Cat Behavior and Characteristics - Referred to as the "four feet on the ground" cat, the British Shorthair is not one for constant offerings of affection. This breed behavior is highly content to go about its day doing its own thing. The British Shorthair is not suitable for those who desire friendly felines as this breed is not as socially inclined. You are ale to easily satisfy the breed's emotional needs by keeping its food bowl filled and the cat can look after its own entertainment. No play time or cuddle time is required to keep this self-contained cat happy.

Since this breed does not demand much of an owner's time, it is the perfect addition to the family of someone who doesn't have a lot of time to spend at home.

British Shorthair Cat Health Problems - With the British Shorthair having so many ancestors contributing to the gene pool, this large breed is very healthy overall, with only one flaw that requires consideration.

Type A Blood is the common blood type of domestic cats; however, the British Shorthair is known to possess the rare Type B Blood type. It is an issue of concern should an operation be needed one day. You should have your local vet check you British Shorthair's blood type to ascertain if it is a rare blood type, to decrease the chances of confusion late on.

It is easy to care for and groom your British Shorthair. With the texture of their coat being rough and thick, a once a week combing should be sufficient to remove loose hairs and particles of dirt.

If your short on time, but still want a cat, the unassuming, self contained personality of a British Shorthair is definitely worth looking in to. It's sure to be a perfect fit.

Moses Wright is a cat lover, he started a web site to help cat owners learn more about cat breed behavior and health care problems here: http://www.petquery.com/cat.htm